Exploring the FEVE in Northern Spain?

[4COR]

I may have a day or two on my own to amuse myself in the next week. We're currently near San Vicente de la Barquera, and I was wondering about having a day riding the northern coast - San Vicente to Oviedo and back is one option (8hrs on train for €17.60...).

Are there any other options ideas about what I could do here in terms of journey options? Thanks!

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Santander is the other obvious option - or have you already traversed that section to reach San Vicente?

There is metre gauge freight action around Torrelavega (which is very industrial), whilst Llanes is quite pleasant for a shorter trip. The big problem, of course, is the 'thin' service - just two through services each way.

One option might be to return from Ovideo by one of the many express coaches along the motorway (which are an awfully lot faster), giving you time to explore the suburban FEVE (now RENFE) network there.

 

[cyclebike]

Just a note to say that on our trip last Summer, the "through" Santander - Oviedo trains in fact were split at Llanes, with an Asturian unit operating Oviedo - Llanes and a Cantabrian unit operating Santander - Llanes. There was absolutely no notice of the "Llanes shuffle" as we termed it. The Asturian side seemed to be notably more reliable, as we had one cancelled train and one bustitution out of three attempted journeys on the Cantabrian side!!

 

[4COR]

Santander is the other obvious option - or have you already traversed that section to reach San Vicente?

There is metre gauge freight action around Torrelavega (which is very industrial), whilst Llanes is quite pleasant for a shorter trip. The big problem, of course, is the 'thin' service - just two through services each way.

One option might be to return from Ovideo by one of the many express coaches along the motorway (which are an awfully lot faster), giving you time to explore the suburban FEVE (now RENFE) network there.

I couldn't manage to get any itinerary to Santander, which was a bit tricky, which is most likely the rather sparse service! Even San Vicente to Torrelavega won't give a same day return trip.... Coach may work - I'll have to look into it, thanks.

(We came via car, which I won't have - I'll potentially be dropped off and then picked up later)

It's quite outside of my knowledge base(!).

 

[S101]

Is this narrow gauge network all physically connected to each other, or is it a lot of unconnected railways? ie, can a locomotive theoretically get to all destinations from anywhere?

 

[Wandering Pom]

The former FEVE network in northern Spain is all connected: it's possible for a single train to run Leon - Bilbao - Santander - Oviedo - Ferrol, and at least one railtour has done this. There's also a physical connection to the Euskotren network, at Ariz in the Bilbao suburbs, so there's a continuous network all the way to Hendaye.

 

[S101]

The former FEVE network in northern Spain is all connected: it's possible for a single train to run Leon - Bilbao - Santander - Oviedo - Ferrol, and at least one railtour has done this. There's also a physical connection to the Euskotren network, at Ariz in the Bilbao suburbs, so there's a continuous network all the way to Hendaye.

Thanks. Satisfying to know.

 

[Backroom_boy]

Are there any good books/maps for exploring the FEVE network in Northern Spain?

I cant seem to find even a good map

 

[The Pelican]

Are there any good books/maps for exploring the FEVE network in Northern Spain?

I cant seem to find even a good map

A good map is at https://www.openrailwaymap.org/
then choose the track gauge display on the menu, and look at Northern Spain. At the moment, Iberian (Broad) Gauge is in yellow, Standard Gauge is in black, and Meter Gauge is in purple.

 

[westcoaster]

Are there any good books/maps for exploring the FEVE network in Northern Spain?

I cant seem to find even a good map

Not a book.but iirc Steve Marsh on YouTube travelled the line, I'll find a link

 

[4COR]

https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/de-feve-a-cercanias-am sort of covers it, but a lot of the meter gauge has been adopted into cercinias (commuter) networks from the looks so looking at each area might also help.

The linking of areas (eg Cantabria with Asturias) is the tricky bit, given so few services as it is slow - though I'm currently on the train into Oviedo so will do a trip report in due course!

Edit: This image might help a bit with the regional services:

 

[Beebman]

Jo Kibble of the YouTube channel 'Travelling Turtle' last year travelled all the way from Hendaye to Ferrol on a 3-day journey (but crossing Bilbao on local transport):

Europe's longest narrow gauge railway runs - very slowly - over 650km right along the northern coast of Spain, through Euskadi, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, combining everything from local metro trains to almost forgotten rural lines through some of Spain's most remote areas. It takes three days to make the full journey, passing stunning scenery, amazing cities, deep history and even the world's best bench (allegedly!). Join Mrs Turtle and myself as we embark on an epic journey on the metre gauge. 0:00 Introduction 3:32 Day 1 Hendaye - Bilbao 19:46 Day 2 Bilbao - Oviedo 36:47 Day 3 Oviedo - Ferrol

 

[Backroom_boy]

Image: Feve tile map

Not sure if i'm allowed to post this but this map was on the side of the old FEVE station in Santander i saw yesterday.

 

[david_g]

Jo Kibble of the YouTube channel 'Travelling Turtle' last year travelled all the way from Hendaye to Ferrol on a 3-day journey (but crossing Bilbao on local transport):

Haven't watched the video yet but I would use the mode of local transport known as legs. Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo(Eusketren) to Concordia(Feve) is about 300m and I think you can see one from the other, they are on opposite sides of the river. You would probably spend more time waiting for the road crossing outside Zazpikaleak than actually walking if you catch the crossing at the wrong time.

 

[Beebman]

Haven't watched the video yet but I would use the mode of local transport known as legs. Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo(Eusketren) to Concordia(Feve) is about 300m and I think you can see one from the other, they are on opposite sides of the river. You would probably spend more time waiting for the road crossing outside Zazpikaleak than actually walking if you catch the crossing at the wrong time.

He alighted at Kukullaga Station and said that he could have continued on the Metro but chose not to, instead he took a combination of funicular, Metro and tram. He has a map in the video showing his route but it's not clear to me especially as sadly I've never been to Bilbao.

 

[WessexEclectic]

Haven't watched the video yet but I would use the mode of local transport known as legs. Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo(Eusketren) to Concordia(Feve) is about 300m and I think you can see one from the other, they are on opposite sides of the river. You would probably spend more time waiting for the road crossing outside Zazpikaleak than actually walking if you catch the crossing at the wrong time.

Bilbao Concordia is not the easiest station to find, signage wise. It's almost like RENFE don't want you to...

 

[david_g]

Bilbao Concordia is not the easiest station to find, signage wise. It's almost like RENFE don't want you to...

You do have a point but the wrought iron screen is quite pretty. The platforms are at first floor level behind it

 

[AdamWW]

He alighted at Kukullaga Station and said that he could have continued on the Metro but chose not to, instead he took a combination of funicular, Metro and tram.

So presumably deliberately not the most direct route.

sadly I've never been to Bilbao.

I'd certainly recommend it for the transport. (There are, I believe, other reasons to visit.)

As well as trains of various types, the metro lines, the tram line and funiculars you also have street escalators, travelators, lifts and a transporter bridge.

And none of the track is (currently) standard gauge. Not many places with lots of track in two gauges and neither of them is standard.

The bus and coach system in the area is also impressive and it has the nicest underground coach station I've ever seen.

 

[Dougal2345]

There is metre gauge freight action around Torrelavega (which is very industrial)

Travelling around the Santander area today (after a disappointingly cloudy eclipse the day before) I was quite pleased to glimpse some dual-gauge sidings around Requejada-Barreda.

The little 3-car EMUs are not the most comfortable trains in the world, although the air conditioning seems to be working about 75% of the time - so the 3hr+ journey I'm making to-morrow to Bilbao is a bit daunting - hope I get a seat and cool air...

I was reading that there are big plans for Santander - the two currently separate (but adjacent) terminus stations, one for metre gauge, and one for Iberian, are to be merged, and the land used for the metre gauge one turned into a car park. I'm not sure how this will improve the railway, but maybe it's being done to sell off some land, or something.

The railway museum that one can see between the tracks when approaching the station(s) is closed for the duration.

 

[AdamWW]

The little 3-car EMUs are not the most comfortable trains in the world, although the air conditioning seems to be working about 75% of the time - so the 3hr+ journey I'm making to-morrow to Bilbao is a bit daunting - hope I get a seat and cool air...

I found the 2-car DMU I caught between Bilbao and Santander last summer quite comfortable with 2 x 1 seating which could even be flipped over so you can face forwards. The air conditioning could perhaps have been a little more enthusiastic though.

 

[david_g]

I'd certainly recommend it for the transport. (There are, I believe, other reasons to visit.)

As well as trains of various types, the metro lines, the tram line and funiculars you also have street escalators, travelators, lifts and a transporter bridge.

And none of the track is (currently) standard gauge. Not many places with lots of track in two gauges and neither of them is standard.

The bus and coach system in the area is also impressive and it has the nicest underground coach station I've ever seen.

I concur. Bilbao is a great city to visit (in no particular order: football, Guggenheim, food, transport, Plaza Nueva on a Saturday night, architecture, Poza on a match day, old town...)

I would recommend getting a Barik card for travelling around, covers transport all over Bizkaia and makes travelling very cheap. Valid on bus, tram, metro, Eusketren, Feve, Renfe, transporter bridge, funicular...

Pays for itself on the first return trip on the airport bus (5 euro for the card then 70 cents for the journey, I think the full fare is 4.50 single). Unfortunately there isn't a machine to buy one at the airport so you have to wait until you get into the city. Load it up on a machine or via a phone app then tap in/tap out.

 

[Dougal2345]

I found the 2-car DMU I caught between Bilbao and Santander last summer quite comfortable with 2 x 1 seating which could even be flipped over so you can face forwards. The air conditioning could perhaps have been a little more enthusiastic though.

Oh, I hadn't realised that the line was not electrified throughout - presumably one reason for the fairly infrequent service (3 a day)... Still for €8,90 I suppose one cannot grumble too much.

 

[WessexEclectic]

Unfortunately there isn't a machine to buy one at the airport so you have to wait until you get into the city. Load it up on a machine or via a phone app then tap in/tap out.

Whilst there is no machine, there is a lady in a booth on the right of Arrivals at the airport (BIO) who can sell you one. (At least that was the case when I was there in Feb 2026, YMMV)

 

[fandroid]

To chuck in a bit of nostalgia, my future wife (Louise) and I travelled over one whole day from San Vincente de la Barquera on metre gauge trains almost to the French border in 1974. A great journey. We had to use a bus to fill a gap at one point. It might have been from San Sebastian to the border. From Hendaye we caught an overnight train to Paris. Got back to Blighty via a ferry later the next day. The Hendaye-Paris train's passengers were mostly Moroccan "guest workers".

 

[James H]

View attachment 209367
You do have a point but the wrought iron screen is quite pretty. The platforms are at first floor level behind it

The railings below the metre-gauge Concordia Station (closer to the river) are the site of the old Bilbao - La Naja Iberian gauge station. I used that station in 1993 when my family and I first rode the FEVE along the coast.